Rolling-mill mechanism.



O. M. GREY.

ROLLING MILL MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1908 1,089,126., Patented Mar. 3, 1914,

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APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1908.

L89,W& Patented Mar.3,1914

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G. M. GREY.

ROLLING MILL MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1908.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

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CHARLES IVL-GREY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NEW YORK STEEL BEAM & GIRDER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ROLLING-MILL MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914;.

Application filed September 4, 1908. Serial No. 451,723.

new and useful Rolling-Mill Mechanism,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention appertains to rolling mills,

and more particularly to means for adjusting one of the mill-housings whereby the roll or rolls of the mill may be removed quickly and replaced by other rolls.

It has been the practice heretofore to make the'windows of the roll housings large enough to allow of the rolls mounted there in to be withdrawn longitudinally through said window, and another prior expedient has been to slide the roll housings longitudinally on the sole plate after loosening the bolts which are used to hold said housing on the sole plate. The withdrawal of rolls longitudinally through the wide window of a housing is an operation which requires not only considerable time, but it is, in many cases, accompanied with considerable risk to the operators. Not only is this objectionable, but the greater width of the housing must materially weaken the housing, if it is made with the same weight of material as is the housing employed for simply supporting the necks of the rolls, which latter would be the case were the outer housing constructed to slide upon the sole plate.

In most mills, the housings for a set of rolls are fastened to the sole plate bybolts, and when it is desired to slide the outer housing out of position preliminarily to the operation of removing the rolls, thebolts holding the said housing are loosened and the housing is moved out of position, either by levers, movable jacks, or any other available. appliance. It is evident that by p1acing a suitable block beneath the bottom rolls, the two rolls can be easily removed with the aid of a crane after the outer housing shall have been moved out of its usual position, or both rolls may be withdrawn together by a suitable arrangement of ropes or chains. The objection which arises from fastening the housing to a sole plate by bolts is that the level of the nuts holding the bolts is, almost invariably, below the floor level, and by reason of the abutting feed tables and the manipulating devices,

such bolts are practically inaccessible, or they are so dl'filcult to get at that said bolts are either left in a loose condition, or else a great deal of time is consumed in the operation of unloosening them and to properly refasten the bolts. This time, when it.

is recalled that the mill is inoperative durmg all changes, represents a great loss in the productive capacity of the mill and a consequent increase in the cost ofthe product.

Theobject of the present invention is to dispense with a wide window in the housing, and, also, to omit the bolts commonly employed for fastening the housings to their sole plates. In lieu of these prior devices, 'I have provided novel means whereby the operations of changing the rolls, or of replacing rolls, in the housings of rolling mills may be performed expeditiously and without danger to the operators.

My invention obviates the necessity of using extremely wide windows in the housing, the use of which windows requires the housing to maintain the same strength as would exist in a housing with a much narrower window, and said housings with wide windows would have to be much heavier in the leg section, as also would be the fillings of the same housing.

Stated broadly, my invention embodies means whereby a housing, when replaced in its normal position for the reception of the rolls, may be wedged in place for the purpose of securing it firmly.

More specifically stated, the invention embodies power operated means for moving one housing out of and back to normal position on the sole plate, and wedging means adapted to cooperate with the housing when it is shifted back to normal position for locking said housing firmly in position to retain the rolls.

The wedging means, in one embodiment of the invention, is adapted for use in connection with housings which are moved) from, and replaced in, a given or predetermined position when the housing is adapted to rolls which are of a given length. In another embodiment of the invention, however, the wedging means are adjustable relative to the sole plate for the purpose of cooperating with a housing whichis adapted to be positioned at variable distances relative to the companion housing, whereby the housings are made to accommodate rolls which are of'difl'erent lengths.

Another part of my invention embraces electrical operating mechanism for work ing the jacks by which the movable housing may be shifted into or out of position relative to the companion fixed housing. With the shiftable housing coiiperates the aforesaid Wedging means, and said electrical j ack-operating means embodies, also, a novel organization of automatic circuit makers and breakers which obviate the imposition of an overload on the motor should the wedging means oppose an excess of resistance to the operation of the jacks during or at the time of moving the housing back to its working position.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated different practical embodiments of the invention, but the constructions shown therein are to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a rolling mill constructed in accordance with my invention, one of the housings being shown in full lines as adjusted to a position which permits the removal of rolls without hindrance, the dotted lines showing said adjustable housing in its normal position for cooperation with said-rolls. Fig. 2 is an elevation of another embodiment of the invention wherein the housing adjusting means is made adjustable so that the housing may be used in connection with rolls which vary in length. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a plan view of part of the rolling mill shown in Fig. 1, representing an electrically driven jack mechanism for quickly adjusting one housing. Fig. 4: is an elevation on a small scale showing a common form of the roll housing having windows of such size as to permit the rolls to be withdrawn longitudinally through said window Fig. 5 is a cross section through one sole plate illustrating in elevation one foot of the adjustable housing. Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 illustrates diagrammatically an electrically operated motor and the controller therefor together with means for automatically controlling the power which forces the wedge surfaces of the housing and the sole plate into engagement with each other.

The construction shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6 of the drawings is that of an ordinary metal rolling mill modified in accordance with this invention and provided with means for locking a movable roll housing in this adjusted position. The usual rolls, 1, 2, are adapted to be fitted in the usual way to a normally fixed or permanent housing, 3, and to an adjustable housing, at.

Housing, 3, is provided with feet, 3*, adapted to be secured by bolts, 5, 6, to the sole plates, A, of the mill. It is to be understood that housing, 3, is not disturbed when rolls, 1, 2, are withdrawn and inserted, hence said housing, 3, is adapted to occupy a fixed or permanent relationship to the sole plates, A, andthe other parts of the mill. Each sole plate shown in F igs, 1, 5 and 6 is of channeled construction, the same comprising a broad substantial base, 2', an upstanding web, 7', and a head, is, the width of the head being less than that of the base, i, and exceeding the thickness of the web, 7', as shown clearly in Figs. 5 and 6. The base,

2', is provided on its upper surface with grooves or channels, 1, which are positioned at the respective sides of the web, 1'. On the under surface of the head, is, the sole plate is provided with corresponding grooves or channels, m, the latter being in alinement with channels, Z. Said channels, Z, m, extend lengthwise of the sole plate for a suitable distance. On. each side of web, 7', forming a part of the sole plate, is a pair of adjusting bars, H. The upper edge of each top bar is fitted in a groove, m, and the lower edge of each bottom bar is fitted in a groove, Z, whereby said bars of each pair are adapted for slidable movement in the grooves of the sole plate. To the outer portions of the bars, H, forming a pair of bars, is rigidly attached a plate or nut, I, the latter being bolted in position and movable with said bars, H, said plate or nut, I, being provided with an opening adapted to receive anadjusting bolt, D. Sole plate, A, is provided at its outer end with a cross piece, 0, which may be attached to said sole plate, or it may be integral therewith as shou n in Fig. 1. In said cross piece, a, is an opening which registers with opening of plate, I, and-through said opening of cross piece, 0, extends the threaded part of bolt, D, whereby nuts, 6, f, are adapted to be screwed on bolt, D, for the purpose of adjusting the slidable bars, H. From this description it is apparent that a pair of adjusting bars, H, are operatively fitted to the channeled sole plate on each side thereof, the bars composing each pair being provided at their outer ends with a plate or nut, I.

H designates a-wedge bar which is attached to each pair of adjusting bars, H, so as to be slidable therewith, said wedge bar being positioned lengthwise of bars, H, at the inner portions thereof. The wedge bar, H, is shown in Fig. 1 as being bolted firmly to slidable bars, H. Preferably, each Wedge bar, H, is in the form of a plate cast in one piece, said plate or bar being of channeled construction in cross section, as shown in Fig. 6. 7

Each wedge baror plate, H, is provided me ian with wedges, a, a, and, preferably, said plate is constructed with said wedges, a, a, on the lower edge of the upper channeled part of said bar or plate, H, as shown clearly'in Fig. 1. Housing, 4:, is provided with feet, 4, adapted to rest firmly upon sole plates, A, and to slide thereon, whereby the housing may be adjusted from the dotted line position of Fig. 1 to the full line position of the same figure, and vice versa. It is preferred to plane the contacting surfaces of sole plates, A, and feet, l, of the housing so as to secure accurate fitting of said housing to the sole plates, and to enable housing, 4, to slide back and forth easily upon said sole plates.

An important feature of my invention consists in providing each foot, 1*, of housing, 4, with wedge surfaces a a, the latter being adapted for cooperation with wedge surfaces, a, a, respectively, for the purpose of fastening housing, 4, securely in the posi tion where it will receive the journals of rolls, 1, 2. As shown in F igs. 1 and 5 plates, J, are bolted or otherwise fastened rigidly to the respective sides of each foot, a, of housing, 4, and said plates on each side of the housing foot, 4", are provided with Wedge surfaces, a a, the wedge surfaces being on the inner faces of said plates, as shown in Fig. 5. Plates, J, of the housing foot extend downwardly below head, is, of sole plates, said plates engaging snugly with the side edges of said head, In. This construction brings the wedges, a a, in position to work between bars, H, which bars are fitted slidably in channels, Z, m, in the head and base of sole plate, respectively.

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Plates, J, move or travel with housing, 4, and they cooperate with channeled sole plates, A, whereby said plates are adapted to serve the purpose of guides for housing, 4, when it is adjusted sidewise with respect to permanent housing, If desired, however, each foot of the housing may be con structed so as to make parts, J, and wedges, a a integral with housing, +1.

Any suitable means may be employed for moving housing, 4, on-the sole plates, A, and in a sidewise direction with .reference to permanent housing, 3, but in Figs. 1 and 3, the electrically operated jack mechanism is represented for adjusting said housing, 4, by power. An electric motor, B, of any suitable type is mounted on bed piece, B,

extending from one sole plate to the other.

Said bed plate is provided with proper bearings for a worm shaft, C, which is driven by gears, 10, from the motor shaft. The worm, U, of shaft, C, operates a countershaft 11, the latter extending crosswise of bed plate, B, and provided with a worm gear shown in dottedlines at, C in Fig. 1, the latter meshing with worm, C. Said countershaft. 11, is provided with a spur .position within housing,

gear, 12, which meshes with other spur gears supported in bed plate, B, so as to be held from endwise' movement therein-while capable of rotation. Through said nuts, 15, operate the jack screws, 16, which extend rearwardly beyond bed plate, B, and have suitable connections, at 17, with housing. 4. It will be understood that the operation of the motor, B, in one direction will rotate shafts, 0,11, and nuts, 15, whereby the screws, 16. will be moved outwardly for the purpose of drawing housing, 4, away from rolls, 1, 2.,and housing, 3, said housing, 4, sliding on sole plates, A. Prior to withdrawing said housing, at, rolls 1 and :2 of the mill should be properly supported and engaged with a lifting tackle associated with a crane, and when said housing is moved to the full line position of Fig. 1, rolls 1 and 2 may be withdrawn from housing, 3, and moved out of the mill.

The operation of sliding-housing, 4, away from the rolls withdraws wedges, a a", from wedges, a, a, respectively, and after a new set of rolls shall have been placed in 3, the jacking mechanism is operated for moving housing, 4, back to its normal position, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This is accomplished by reversing motor, B, so as to slide housing, 4, along the sole plates. When said housing approaches its normal position, wedges, a a, engage firmly with wedges a, a, respectively, and the housing is thus adapted to be locked in its normal position by the coiiperating Wedges, whereby bolts or other means for fastening the housing to the sole plates are omitted. Should it happen that there is a slight lostmotionror play between housing, 4, and sole plates, A, due to an insufficient engagement of wedges, a, a, with wedges, a, a, the operator should slacken nuts, f, and turn nuts, 6, on bolts, 1), whereby bars, H, and wedges, w a, are adapted to be drawn outwardly thus tightening the engagement of wedges, a, a, with wedges, a a, so as to fasten housing, 4, securely and solidly in position. a

The construction heretofore described and shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6 of the drawings is adapted to regulate the inward traveling of housing, 4, for the reason that when wedge surfaces, a a, are in close engagement with wedges, a, a, the jacking mechanism cannot move housing, 1, farther in an inward direction. Said construction is adapted for use in connection with movable housings which are to occupy the same position on the sole plates when in engagement with the rolls, but as this construction is limited to rolls which are of one given length, 1 have found it desirable to employ a modified construction, shown in Figs. 2 and 2*, when the mill is used with rolls of varying lengths. Said modified construction embodies an adjustable block, 0, which is provided in its top with recess, 0 see Fig. 2. The under surfaces of the overhanging flanges forming parts of the head, is, of the sole plate are provided with recesses, g, whereby block, 0, is adapted to be fastened adjustably in position on the sole plate. The adjustable block is usedin lieu of the fixed cross piece, 0, of Fig. 1, and said block, 0, is adapted to be placed in the channel of sole plate, A, suitable pins, g, being thrust into the registering recesses, g, 0 of the block and sole plate, respectively, whereby block, 0', is locked rigidly in position on the sole plate, although it may be adjusted to any desired position near the outer end of said sole plate. It should be understood that a block, 0, is used on each side of the channel sole plate, as shown in Fig. 2. The adjustable block, a, cooperates with the adjusting bolt, 1), which is conturned to its operative position.

nected with the sliding plate, I, at the outer ends of wedge adjusting bars, H.

a The notches, g, are provided in the head of the channeled s'ole plate at any prede-' termined distance from each other so that although the distance between blocks, 0, I,

housing, 3, particularly so that housing, a,

can be adjusted to different positions on the sole plates and secured in different positions in order to use it in connecton with rolls of varying lengths. From this description, it will be apparent that housing, ,4, may be moved to different operative positions on the sole plates, and that wedges, a, a, may be brought into position for engagement with wedges, a a, when the housing is re- Should it be necessary, nut, f, may be slackened on screw, D, and nuts, 6, tightened thereon for the purpose of adjusting bars, H, so as to bring wedges, a, a, into firm engagement with wedge surfaces, a a, for locking housing, 4, securely in place.

When an electric motor, B, is used for operating the housing acking mechanism, it is preferred to employ controlling means for regulating the ower which forces the wedge surfaces, a, a a a into engagement with each other so as to avoid the risk of damage to the parts by creating excessive wedging contact. One embodiment ofmeans for securing this result is shown diagrammatically inFig. 7 wherein motor armature,

B, and its field coils, B, are in series with a controller, B of any standard construction. A main switch, Q, in the mains, g,

opens and closes the motor circuit, the main, being in series with the motor field, B, and with the solenoid coil, P, of an automatic circuit breaker, the plunger, P, of which is provided with a head, p, adapted normally to bridge contacts, 0, 0. Contact, 0, is branched at 0 onto main, g, whereas contact,-o, is connected by conductor, 0 to coil, 8, of an automatic switch, S. Said coil, .9, is connected by a branch conductor, t, to a bank of resistances, R, the latter being branched to a conductor, t, leading back to main, 9. Conductor, t, is attached to one terminal, 3 of a pair of terminals, 8*, 8 the latter being bridged by head, 8 of the core, 5, of switch coil, 8. Said core, 8', controls a switch lever, 3 adapted to make contact with a terminal, to, of a conductor, to, leading directly to controller, B A resistance, R, is branched at one end. onto conductor, w and is connected at u to switch lever, 8 and from this connection, u leads a branch, u to the coil, P, of the automatic regulator.

When switch, Q, is closed, current flows from positive lead, 9, through, 0 to terminal, 0, thence through contact plate p, to terminal, 0', thence through, 0 to coil, 8,- of switch, S, through said coil, 8, to terminal,

3*, and thence back to the negative lead, g.

This energizes coil, 8, whereby plunger, 8, and contact bar, a are raised, thus breaking the circuit at 8*, s and operating switch lever, 8 to make contact with terminal, to,

whereupon current flows through, to, to controller, B and thence to motor, B. Although the operation of switch lever, 8 breaks the circuit at 8*, 8 some of the current has a ath of flow through coil, 3, for the reason t atsaid coil is branched by conductor, t, the current flowing through the bank of resistance, R, which is interposed in the circuit of switch coil, 8, to reduce the current and to secure a flow of current which is just 'sufiicient to energize coil, 8, for bold ing switch lever, 8 upon contact, w. A fur ther advantage of resistance, R, is that the current is precluded from sparking at contacts, 0, 0, when the circuit is interrupted at regulator, P. Switch, S, having completeda circuit externally to controller, B the motor will start into operation the moment said controller is thrown on in either direction.

The coil, P, of the automatic circuit breaker is in series with the motor, and whenever the current flowing through said coil becomes excessive, core, P, is lifted and contact, P, withdrawn from terminals, 0, 0, thus mterrupting the circuit at said clrcuit breaker, the result of which is to deenergize the coil, 8, of switch, S, whereupon switch lever, 8 is freed from terminal, w, so to break the direct circuit to controller and motor. The current to the motor is not shut off completely, however, for the reason that the current can flow through the path provided by the bank of resistance, R, the current flowing through lead, 9, the motor field, coil, P, conductor, uresistance, R, conductor, u, controller, B motor armature, B, and negative lead, 9. Resistances, R, are so proportioned that the motor can remain unattended while the current is flowing without involving risk of damage to the motor. The system is so regulated and controlled that there is practically no possibility of wedges being forced together at a pressure which shall work injury to the means for adjusting the housing, 4.

When the switch lever 8 is in its proper working position, the operator knows that the housing, 4:, is being forced into its nor-' mal posit-ion notwithstanding the resistance offered by the opposing wedges, and under these circumstances, the operator can shut off the current by adjusting the controller.

From the foregoing it is to be understood that the' wedges on the housing are moved into and out of engagement with the wedges on the sole plate by the employment of means for moving said housing lengthwise of the sole plate. The wedges on the l1ousing when moved into enga ement with the wedges on the sole plate 0 er resistance to the movement of the housing as it approaches an operative position relative to the rolls, and this resistance so controls the electrical jacking mechanism that the How of current in the motor will be diminished proportionally to the resistance offered by the stationary wedges to the moving wedges, whereby the electrical power is automatically diminished as the housing moves towardits operative relation to the rolls.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rolling mill, a sole plate, a roll housing movable thereon, means whereby the housing may be moved out of and into operative relation to the rolls, and wedgmg mechanism cooperating with the housing whereby upon the movementof the housing into operative position relative to the rolls said wedging mechanism operates to lock the housing in position.

2. In a rolling mill, a sole plate, a roll housing slidable thereon, said roll housing being movable into and out of operative relation to the rolls, and cooperating wedges on the sole plate and the housing, said wedges being brought into engagement by the movement oi the housing into operative relation to the rolls.

movement to the housing whereby it is moved into and out of an operative position relative to the rolls, wedges movable wit-h the housing, and other wedges positioned on the sole plate for engagement automatically with the wedges of the housing upon the movement of said housing into an operative position relative to the rolls.

4. In a rolling mill, a sole plate, a roll housing movable thereon and into and out of operative relation to the rolls, wedges attached to and movable with said housing, and other relatively fixed wedges on the sole plate, said relatively fixed wedges being positioned in the path of the wedges on the housing and cooperating therewith to automatically lock the housing against movement upon the movement of said housing into an operative position relative to the rolls.

5. In a rolling mill, a sole plate, a roll housing movable lengthwise of the sole plate, said roll housing being movable into and out of operative relation to the rolls, and wedges extending lengthwise of the sole plate, said housing being provided with wedges which are adapted, by the movement of the housing into an operative position relative to the rolls, to be brought into engagement with said wedges of the sole plate for the purpose of retaining the housing fixedly in operative relation to the rolls.

0. In a rolling mill, a sole plate, a roll housing slidable thereon and into and out of operative relation to the rolls, a wedge attached to said roll housing, another wedge positioned on the sole plate and in the path of the wedge of the housing, and means for effecting an adjustment of one of said wedges relative to the other wedge, whereby the housing is automatically locked by the cooperation of said wedges upon the movement of said housing into an operative position relative to the rolls.

7. In a rolling mill, asole plate, a roll housing slidable relatively to said sole plate and into and out of operative relation to the rolls, said housing being provided with a plurality of wedges, other wedges positioned on the sole plate, said sole plate wedges be ing adapted for engagement with the wedges of the housing when the latter is in an operative position relative to the rolls, and means for adjusting said sole plate wedges relatively to the sole plate, said adjusting means being operable to move said soleplate wedges in the direction of movement of the housing.

8. In a rolling mill, a sole plate, a roll housing provided with wedges, other wedges positioned on said sole plate and in the path of the wedges on the housing when the latter is moved into anoperative position relative to the rolls, and means for adjusting said sole plate wedges relative to the sole plate and to different positions thereon in the path of the wedges of the housing.

9. In a rolling mill, a sole plate, wedges on said sole plate, means for adjusting said wedges to varying positions on the sole plate, and a housing slidable on said-sole plate and having wedges adapted for engagement with the wedges on the soleplate'when the housing assumes a position in operative relation to the rolls, said wedge-adjusting means being operable to move the Wedges on the sole plate subsequent to the operation of bringing the wedges of the housing into cooperative relation to said wedges of the sole plate.

10. In a rolling mill, the combination of a channeled sole plate, wedges in the channels of said sole plate, va roll housing slidable on the sole plate into or out of operative relation to the rolls, said housing being provided with wedges complementary to those on the sole plate whereby the sliding of the housing into its operative position causes the wedges on the housing to engage those on the sole plate for the purpose of locking said housing in place.

11. In a rolling mill, a channeled sole plate, wedges in the channels of said sole plate, means for adjusting said wedges lengthwise of the sole plate, and a roll housing provided with wedges adapted for engagement with the aforesaid wedges when the housing assumes a position inoperative relaton to the rolls.

12. In a rolling mill, a channeled sole plate, wedge-adjustin bars slidably fitted in the channels of the so e plate, means for ad justing said'bars lengthwise of the sole plate, a roll housing, the rolls, means for moving the housing into and out of operative relation to the rolls, and wedges on the housing,

said wedges of the housing cooperating with the wedges of the sole plates when said housing is in operative relation to the rolls, for locking the housing in a fixed position relative to the sole plate and to the rolls.

13. In a rolling mill, a channeledsole plate, wedge-adjusting bars slidably fitted in the channels of the sole plate, said bars being provided with wedges, means for adjusting said bars, a roll housing movable into and out of operative relation to the rolls, and wedges on said housing adapted to cooperate with the wedges'of the sole plate upon the housing assuming an operative position relative to the rolls.

14. In a rolling mill, a channeled sole plate, wedge-adjusting bars slidably fitted in the channels of the sole plate, said bars being provided with wedges, an adjustable member fixed to said sole plate, an adjust-- ing screw mounted in said member and corelation to the rolls, and means brought into operation by the resistance of the wedges as the housing approaches an operative position relative to the rolls for diminishing the power of the jacking mechanism.

16. In a rolling mill, a roll housing, wedge mechanism made eflective by a slidable movement of the housing, jacking mechanism adapted to move the housing into and out of operative relation to the rolls, and mechanism brought into operation by the resistance of the wedge mechanism as the housing approaches an operative position relative to the rolls for diminishing the power of said jacking mechanism.

17. In a rolling mill, a sole plate, a roll housing slidable thereon and into and out of operative relation to the rolls, wedge mechanism made effective by a movement of the housing lengthwise of the sole plate, said wedge mechanism being adapted for retaining the housing in a predetermined fixed position relative to the rolls, power operated mechanism for imparting movement to the housing, and means controllable by the re sistance of the wedge mechanism as the housing approaches its operative position relative to the .rolls for diminishing power of said operatin mechanimn.

18. In a ro ling mill, a sole plate, a roll housing slidable relatively thereto, mechanism made efl'ective by a movement of the housing lengthwise of the sole plate for retaining said housing in a predetermined fixed position, power operated mechanism anism.

19. In a rolling mill, a sole plate, a roll housing slidable relatively thereto, wedge mechanism cooperating with the housing for retaining the latter in a predetermined fixed position relative to the rolls, power operated mechanism for moving the housing into and out of operative relation to the rolls, and mechanism brought into operation by the resistance of the wedge mechanism as the housing substantially reaches the operative osition relative to the rolls for diminishing the power of said operating mechanism.

20. In a rolling mill, the combination of a sole plate, a roll housing mounted thereon for slidable movement, mechanism'for moving the housing lengthwise of the sole plate and into and out of operative relation to the rolls, and cooperating locking devices on the housing and the sole plate, respectively, said locking devices being releasable by the movement'of the housing in one direction lengthwise the sole plate, and brought into operative engagement by the movement of the housing in the opposite direction and into operative relation to the vrolls, whereby the housing may be locked to, and unlocked from, the sole plate at a predetermined position.

21. In a rolling mill, a sole plate, a roll housing slidably mounted upon the sole plate, and provided with wedges, other wedges on the sole plate and fixed relatively thereto for engagement with the Wedges of the housing, and means for adjusting the second named wedges relative to the sole plate and the wedges of the housing.

22. In a rolling mill, the combination of a sole plate, a roll housing movably mounted thereon, means for moving the housing on said sole plate, locking means mounted on said housing, and coacting locking 'means mounted on the sole plate and capable of adjustment along the line of movement of said movable housing, the locking means on both housing and the sole plate being adapted to be brought into engagement by the movement of the housing along said sole plate to a predetermined position.

23. In a rolling mill, the combination of a roll housing shiftable into and out of operative relation with the rolls of the mill, a

supporting bed for said housing, Wedging means mounted on the supporting bed, and complementary wedgin means mounted on the housing, wherebyt e movement of said housing into its operative position serves to bring said wedging means into cooperative relation for the purpose of looking the housing in place.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 

